ICT Critical To Livestock Development, Says Minister

Minister of Livestock Development Idi Mukhtar Maiha has said the application of information and communication technology (ICT) is essential to modernising animal production and ensuring the traceability of livestock in Nigeria.

During a courtesy visit yesterday by a delegation from Protein Trail Limited tohis office in Abuja, Maiha said integrating appropriate ICT tools and data systems in livestock management would help close the gap in animal health monitoring and traceability in line with international standards.

He said, “What we need is accurate data and ICT applications that capture the history of animals from birth to slaughter. This is the only way to effectively manage animal health and ensure traceability.”

The minister expressed the ministry’s readiness to support the private sector by providing land for ranching, access to quality feed and fodder, and improvements in animal breeding.

He commended Protein Trail Limited’s innovative approach to transforming the livestock sector.
Earlier in his presentation, the executive director of Protein Trail Limited, Olaseni Salako, revealed that the company was developing an application to store key data on each animal, ranging from birth records and health status to vaccination history and physical characteristics.

“With this app, animals can be traced from birth to the point of slaughter. Every tagged animal will carry a full health profile, ensuring transparency and disease control,” Salako said.

He stressed the need for animal tagging and the use of standard abattoirs, noting that this would curb cattle rustling, improve Nigeria’s standing in the international meat market, and boost revenue through beef exports.

Salako also disclosed the company’s plans to develop Quick Response (QR) codes for animal products, which would allow consumers to verify the quality and origin of dairy products.

According to the ministry and private sector stakeholders, the initiative is a step forward in transforming Nigeria’s livestock value chain and ensuring consumer food safety.